Best Wide Angle Lenses For Canon in 2023 – Top 10 Rated Reviews

The market is flooded with excellent quality lenses at the moment. So, working out exactly which are the best wide angle lenses for Canon cameras can be a tad confusing. The price range is huge, and so many different companies vying for your hard-earned dollars. We understand the confusion.

Wide-angle lenses are an integral part of any photographer’s tool bag. But, are especially important for those who need to produce high-quality snaps of landscapes, real estate, or large events.

What makes a great Canon compatible wide-angle lens?

Well, a few factors. First things first, a lens is considered to be wide-angle when it has a focal length of 35mm or less. The smaller the focal length, the wider the shot, for example, a 14mm lens will show more than a 35mm lens.

The quality of the components that make up the lens is of paramount importance. Lenses are bespoke, highly specific pieces of equipment. They are made to comply with extremely low tolerance levels, and so choosing a lens from a top name company is always your safest bet.

But, it doesn’t always have to be made by Canon…

That’s not to say you have to buy Canon lenses for Canon DSLR cameras. There are a couple of highly regarded third party manufacturers who are producing great lenses and usually at a friendlier price point. So, always do your research before spending your hard-earned cash.

The next thing to consider is distortion. Almost every wide-angle lens will have at least a small amount of inherent distortion. The better the lens, the less distortion, and the better the photo – simple! But hold on, that’s not entirely true…

Lenses such as fish eyes produce a huge amount of distortion, but that may be exactly what you are looking for.

Don’t forget the sensor size…

You should also consider the sensor size in the camera body you are using. A 35mm is considered a wide-angle on a full-frame sensor, but when used with an APS-C sensor, it essentially becomes the equivalent 56mm lens. If you are using an APS-C sensor, it’s best to go for a prime lens below 22mm or a zoom lens with a lower tolerance of at most 22mm.

Keep in mind that the use of filters, in particular polarising filters, is extremely prevalent for landscape photography, especially when long exposures are needed. Polarisation levels shift as light levels change across the sky, meaning the wider the lens, the more variations in polarization.

Now that all that’s out of the way, let’s jump in and see what’s available when it comes to the best wide angle lenses for Canon DSLR camera bodies.

Top 10 Best Wide Angle Lenses For Canon In 2023 Reviews

1 Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon APS-C Digital SLR Cameras – Best Tamron Wide Angle Lens for Canon

First up, we have one of the most highly acclaimed third-party wide-angle lenses currently available. This massively wide lens delivers top-shelf sharpness across the full zoom range and is known for being lightweight, travel-friendly, and fully weather-sealed.

Focused stability…

The Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD includes the fantastic, all-new HLD autofocus system and internal VC stabilization – that’s shorthand for the High/Low toque-modulated Drive and Vibration Compensation stabilization. When combined, these help to deliver great results, even when shooting handheld and in low light.

Also improved from previous models are the enhanced aspherical, LD (low dispersion), and XLD (extra-low dispersion) elements, which reduce chromatic aberration to almost zero.

Chromatic aberration… what is this?

Chromatic aberration, which is also referred to as dispersion or color fringing, is an issue that occurs when colors are focused incorrectly or refracted by the lens. This results in a mismatch at the focal point where the colors do not combine as they should. This produces a blurry and out of focus effect on the finished product.

This lens is made from a super-strong polycarbonate. And O-rings create a weather and dustproof seal and sporting a fluorine coating on the front element, which makes cleaning a breeze. This lens is built strong and is made to last.

Pretty as a picture…

And when it comes to picture quality, this lens is truly second to none. Throughout the entire zoom range, the Tamron 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II VC HLD produces amazing results. The edges do suffer slightly when shooting at the widest aperture, but this is minimal and also common for this class of lens.

Our rating: (4.4 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

2 Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM FLD AF Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens for APS-C Canon Digital DSLR Cameras – Best Value for the Money Wide Angle Lens for Canon

For an extremely reasonable price, the Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM FLD AF delivers amazing results. And it is an absolute pleasure to shoot with. Thanks to the fast and quiet HSM AF (Hyper-Sonic AutoFocus motor) and top-shelf build quality. And that’s without even mentioning the fact that this lens offers the widest focal length available in any rectilinear lens!

Rectilinear? Care to explain?

Sure thing! It is pretty simple, actually. In photography, a rectilinear lens is a lens that produces images where straight features, for example, powerlines or the walls of buildings, appear as straight lines. To put it another way, a rectilinear lens is a lens with little barrel or pincushion distortion.

The 8mm lower end of this zoom lens shaves a full 2mm off what competing lenses are offering. We know, 2mm does not sound like much of a difference, right? Well, with wide-angle lenses, every single millimeter makes a marked difference in coverage.

The viewing angle here is upped from 108 degrees to a ridiculous 121 degrees! The difference could not be more noticeable, with the scope of frame being seriously eye-popping!

Heavier than most and keep an eye on the weather…

This is not a light lens, weighing in at almost double the Canon 10-18mm lens. And the lack of weather seals is something to consider as well. But, if you are happy to have a slightly heavier carry case and are not worried about weather conditions, then the rest of the build will impress.

Sigma have opted to use long-lasting, impressively made components – and in all honesty, we loved the weight of this lens in our hands, and the lack of weather-proofing never became an issue for us.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

3 Tokina ATX AF120 DX 11-20mm f/2.8 Pro DX Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras – Best Ultra Wide Angle Lens for Canon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SXU9RXU/?tag=tinygrab-20

In the past decade, Tokina have firmly secured a reputation for producing wide-angle lenses that deliver only the best images. When the 11-16mm lens for Canon APS-C was launched all the way back in 2008, reviewers and users went a little crazy with excitement. Finally, an ultra-wide zoom lens that was not only affordable but also worked!

Tokina does it again…

Well, with the introduction of the Tokina ATX AF120 DX 11-20mm f/2.8 pro DX lens for Canon DSLR cameras, Tokina has once again raised the bar. With a vastly extended zoom, and the surprisingly fast f/2.8 maximum aperture (at all focal lengths), this is one of the most sought after pieces of glass on the market today!

This fully weather-sealed lens has a substantial solidness and feels wonderful in the hand. Two glass-molded aspherical elements and one P-MO hybrid aspherical element work in harmony to help reduce various aberrations and distortions. And there are three ultra-low SD dispersion elements that do an amazing job of reducing chromatic aberrations.

All layers have been coated to boost overall light transmission and color accuracy, with lens flare and ghosting at unnoticeable levels.

Ok, but what really sets this lens apart?

In our opinion, it is the marriage of the f/2.8 max aperture with the wonderful nine-blade diaphragm. We all know how great certain images shot at f/2.8 look, but with this diaphragm contributing to the smooth out-of-focus quality, the use of shallow depth of field techniques are easier and more satisfying than ever!

Our rating: (4.3 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

4 Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras – Best Low Light Wide Angle Lens for Canon

We are at just the fourth review of our list, and already we have two Sigma lenses featured?! This goes to show just how highly we, and most other industry experts, rank these lenses. And with the release of the hard-to-pronounce Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD early last year, Sigma have proved once again that they make some of the best imagery glass available today!

Hold up! What do all the abbreviations in the name actually mean?

Well, f/3.5 relates to the fact that the lens has a maximum aperture of 3.5 across the entire zoom range, making this lens perfectly suited for low light and indoor shooting. EX refers to the fact that this lens has Sigma’s proprietary external coating, ensuring great all-round performance.

DC lets us know that this lens is designed for use with APS-C sensors (where the 10-20mm focal range is moved to 16-32mm), and HSM stands for Hyper Sonic Motor. This is the type of AutoFocus motor that is used, and it is razor-sharp, super quick, and almost silent.

A number of elements…

If you were able to open this up and take a quick peek, you would be presented with two extra-low dispersion (ELD) elements, one special low dispersion (SLD) and four aspherical elements. These have all been coated for minimal ghosting and flare, and work in unison to reduce color fringing, chromatic aberrations, distortion, and spherical aberrations.

One more impressive feature is the minimum focusing distance. A tiny 9.4” is available throughout the zoom range, which opens up a smorgasbord of shooting options.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

5 Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras – Best Entry Level Wide Angle Lens for Canon

If you are looking for an entry-level Canon-branded ultra-wide-angle lens, then stop what you are doing and give the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM a good look over. This lens consistently performed above our expectations in terms of image quality produced and how much fun we had shooting with it.

Stepping Focusing Motor Technology…

Lenses featuring a plastic body and mount are not usually high on our list, but the amazingly compact design that Canon were able to pull off here is a sight to behold. Also featured is Canon’s very own updated stepping focusing motor technology.

This provides smoother, quieter autofocus performance – we found this suited video creation really well. The lens also has four-stop internal optical image stabilization, which at this price is pretty generous.

It’s lightweight as well…

In terms of most lenses, and particularly wide-angle lenses, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is very light. At just 240 grams, this is where the lightweight plastic design comes into its own. If we are being totally honest, to begin with, we found it a little off-putting, but once we got used to the weight, we loved it.

Canon were able to provide an extremely short minimum focusing distance of just 22cm, Super Spectra coatings to help reduce ghosting and flare, and a front element that is non-rotating. Canon lenses are rarely cheap, but this is a lens that will not break the bank and also take fantastic photos and video.

Our rating: (4.9 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

6 Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Wide-Angle Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras – Best Weatherproof Wide Angle Lens for Canon

On the hunt for a wide-angle lens with a fast maximum aperture? Well then, this Sigma might be the one for you! This lens is a direct revamp of the older, but also highly acclaimed, 12-24mm II lens. Yes, your right, 2mm of focal length have been lost here, but with all new features and a much faster aperture, it’s a loss we can handle.

New features, you say?

“Yes, sir.” The new Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art Series lens features a widely effective weather-proof design and coating, with special sealing at the manual zoom and focus rings, cover connection, and mount connection both boost dust and splash proofing and add to the overall solidity of this lens.

Sigma’s Art lenses have historically been known for using the newest and best autofocus systems, and it’s no different here. The Sigma 14-24mm F2.8 DG HSM Art Series lens employs a ring-type ultrasonic system, which can boast the claim of being close to class-leading in speed and how quiet it is during operation.

Sharpness and contrast that can’t be beaten…

The Art series of lenses have also always been applauded for their incredible level of sharpness and how they handle contrast, even at the widest aperture of f/2.8. Edge and corner distortion are practically non-existent. And thanks to the internal combination of glass, aberrations, and distortions are handled beautifully throughout the entire zoom range.

Even with its unusual focal range (16-35mm being more commonly sought after and used), we think that this is one of the best wide angle lenses for Canon on the market today!

Our rating: (4.7 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

7 Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM L-series Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras – Best Wide Angle Lenses for Canon fro Wedding Photography

Covering what is usually considered the most useful range for wide-angle zoom lenses (when using a full-frame sensor), the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM L-series lens has long been considered the benchmark when it comes to mid-range wide-angle lenses. And this updated version has some new goodies added to make it an even tastier purchase.

Auto Focus perfection…

Featuring an Ultrasonic Motor that incorporates an internal-focus design, this particular type of AF focuses lightning fast and whisper quiet. During our testing, the speed of the focusing was almost always instantaneous, which makes shooting an absolute delight.

The one time we found this system struggling slightly was in extremely low light conditions, but that is nothing out of the ordinary. There is also a dedicated manual focus ring that you can use anytime without worrying about damaging the autofocus motor.

Recently in the office, there has been a hot debate about IS (image stabilization) and whether it is actually needed in wide-angle lenses.

And what was the outcome of this debate?

After testing all the lenses on this list, we have fallen firmly on the side of yes – IS is a worthy component to any lens, including wide-angle offerings. The difference this makes when shooting from the hip is unbelievable, and when used in situations like weddings or parties, the boost in stabilization is much needed.

Overall, this is a workhorse of a lens that can be used for an extensive list of projects and produces top-quality results time after time.

Our rating: (4.5 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

8 Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras – Including Tamron Tap-in Console, Altura Photo Essential Accessory, and Travel Bundle – Best Wide Angle Lens for Canon Kit

If you are looking for not just a wide-angle lens for Canon DSLR, but also a heap of extras, then 100% this is the deal for you. To be fair, even if you’re just looking for a lens, this is a great deal as the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 lens is certainly something special!

Tamron knows what they’re doing for sure…

This is the second generation of Tamron’s groundbreaking lens setup. Released in 2014, the older sibling was the very first constant-aperture full-frame ultra-wide-angle zoom lens on the market to feature built-in image stabilization.

And now, with an upgraded design and newly released tech, this lens is still pushing the boundaries of what we thought possible.

Great! But what is the “Tamron Tap-In Console”?

This is an accessory that allows the user to update the lens firmware, as well as tweaking a multitude of lens functions to give the user the best shooting experience possible. By simply connecting the console to the lens, and using the included USB cable to connect to your PC or Mac, you are given full control over the lens!

And the bundle. Wow. It’s so jammed packed we don’t know where to start! The awesome Altura package includes an AirBag Packable Bag and Camera Insert, a mini tripod with a pistol grip hold, a wrist strap, multiple lens pouches, a cleaning kit, and Altura’s award-winning hard-shell case.

Our rating: (4.9 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

9 Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM Lens + Cleaning Kit for Canon Digital SLR Cameras – Best Macro Wide Angle Lens for Canon

The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM Lens is the first of four new lenses that were announced in 2019, alongside the also new mirrorless EOS R camera bodies. This is the first of two prime lenses we are going to look at.

So, if it is a prime wide-angle lens you’re looking for, stick around!

The ridiculously fast f/1.8 max aperture gives you great control of not just depth-of-field, but also over how you want to shoot in low light. Internally, we see 11 elements in nine groups. Each element is used to reduce an aberration or distortion, and they do a great job.

Each element also incorporates Super Spectra coating, which has been applied to severely reduce ghosting and flare.

The STM (stepping motor) autofocus drive motor provides a fast, quiet, and accurate autofocus output. This is perfect for recording video and shooting stills. Like all other RF lenses, there is a handy configurable control ring that can be used to adjust a variety of exposure settings. For example, ISO levels, aperture width, and exposure compensation.

Impressive and lightweight…

This is by far the lightest lens in the Canon RF range, weighing in 30 grams lighter than the next in line and a whopping 70 grams lighter than Nikon’s equivalent lens, the Nikon Z 35mm F1.8. It is also quite a bit shorter than the Nikon Z 35mm.

The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens has a minimum focus range of just 17cm. This does give it the classification of “macro”. Our only real complaint about this lens is that instead of giving the full 1.0x magnification ratio, we are only offered 0.5x. This is pretty normal for your everyday lens that includes macro abilities. But it does limit options for professionals.

And one more thing…

Canon’s all-new hybrid optical stabilizer does do a fantastic job when shooting up close. And, the added feature of correcting x-y shifts as well as the more usual vibration or wobble compensation.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

10 Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM Compact System Lens – Best Compact Wide Angle Lens for Canon

The impressively small Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM is a pancake-style lens. However, it is only compatible with the hugely popular Canon’s EOS M compact interchangeable lens camera. These are mirrorless systems that use an APS-C sensor. This means the 22mm focal length delivers a 35mm equivalent field of view.

Compact, speedy, and almost silent…

The application of the widely acclaimed STM (stepping motor) autofocus drive motor ensures speedy, almost silent operation. The smooth and fast focus transitions make this the perfect lens for shooting both regular photos and video. And with the f/2.0 max aperture. This lens captures three times the light of the 18-55mm kit lens that comes with every EOS M body.

This control over low light shooting and depth of field makes the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2.0 STM compact system lens an absolute delight to shoot with!

Sounds good, right?!

And with the option to add any 43mm filter, and the EW-43 lens hood, the range of shooting opportunities only gets wider. Expect the highest level of sharpness from center to corner when shooting, especially at all aperture settings and low levels of distortion and vignetting.

This gorgeous little lens was one of our favorites to test. The classic 35mm focal length (equivalent) it will suit all levels of photography.

Our rating: (4.6 / 5)

Check Price on Amazon

Not Just Lenses…

Why stop there? We’ve got cameras to suit almost everyone’s shooting style, anytime, anywhere!

So, please also check out our Best Mirrorless Cameras Reviews, our Best GoPro Camera reviews, our Best Instant Camera reviews, our Best Camera Drones reviews, and our reviews of the Best Point And Shoot Cameras currently available.

You may also be interested in our Best Dash Cam reviews, our Best Waterproof Camera reviews, and our Best Compact Camera reviews.

So, What Are The Best Wide Angle Lenses For Canon?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that brings us to our wrap up of our top wide-angle lenses for Canon cameras. With so many great models available, it was tricky to choose just one winner.

But, without further ado, we present the…

…as our top pick!

So what are you waiting for? Try it out and see if it’s as good as we think it is.

Now, where did I put my camera?